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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Louisiana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Downsville Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Receiving Child Pornography

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Randy A. Powell, 34, of Downsville, La., was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for receiving child pornography.

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on December 10, 2013, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies learned in February of 2012 that Powell, who is a registered sex offender, was maintaining social media accounts under an alias, which is a violation of his sex offender registration requirements. Authorities arrested Powell February 23, 2013, and his home was searched. They found 1,041 images and 150 videos of prepubescent children. Approximately 50 of the videos/photos depicted children in bondage. Powell admitted to investigators that he used a file-sharing program to download the images. Powell has a previous conviction for attempted possession of child pornography.

The FBI and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Those concerned may also leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Monroe FBI office number is (318) 387-0773.